The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-11
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
What TO Do with the Surplus.
Editor Of tho India naIia Jourual.

To the Editor of the indianapolis journal:
In your issue of Tuesday, Feb. l, there ap-
pears lengthy editorial suggesting several
plans for distributing the Treasury surplus Per
nit the writer to suggest that distribution OF
not less than S. per capita be apportioned to the
States for each man subject to military duty ard
in this way relieve the States of the burden OF
maintaining the militia by direct tax upon
their citizens. In case of war the govern
ment claims and demands the allegiance and
services of its citizens, and out Of the revenues
paid by all the people. the government
ing uniformine and arming of the
militia in every State. million
dollars apportioned to Indiana for this purpose
'just now" for the benefit of creditable mill
tary organization would be appreciated. This
plan win dispense with any necessity for in
creasing the regular army, as our citizen sol
diery. under proper training. will always Do the
main reliance for defense Another object Tor
which few millions should be appropriated Is
the preparation and perfecting, as soon as posi-
BILE, of torpedo service for the defense of our
seacoasr harbors and cities. Every dollar spent
on something of practical value in this kind OF
defense will be worth ten put into fortiflca-
tons. A few good ships should also be added In
connection with the torpedo service.
Another desirable and feasible undertaking.
which would be of great value both to the East
canal by the government until vessels of one
thousand tons more could 60 from the lakes
| to tidewater inside of American territory. and
this could and should be further extended to the
old Wabash & Erie canal from Toledo to La
| fayette. Also, a ship canal from the Wabash
near Lafayette to Lake Michigan, and the Wabash
4 river so improved that steamers of five hundred
| tons or more can 60 through from the lakes to
1 the great waterways of the South at all times
| when not checked by ice. Internal improve
1 ments of this kind will benefit every
| farmer in the West and all consumers East, give
| labor employment and distribute the money
| direct to the people without paying toll to the
| banks. Keep the revenues where they are for
| ten or twenty years, and these and other vaiua-
1 BILE improvements of advantage to the whole
body of our people can be made and employment
| solution of the Transportation problem" in the
| interest of the people," the government should
| build a four-track railway from New York to
1 the Missouri river and from Chicago to the At
4 lantic gulf, south, allowing companies to own
| and run cars over such roads at an assessed
4 mileage of SO much per ton under government
| control and regulations, the government to have
| exclusive use of such roads when necessary
in time of war. Another object to
| which the government could devote some
| Millions of its surplus is the payment now OF
| its honest debt due the men who saved it from
| destruction and made it possible to accumu-
| late "a surplus" and gain a credit at home and
| abroad, the highest In the world. 1t should now
| pension for life every honorably discharged reg
| ular volunteer Union soldier of the late war at
not less than So per month and more for disa
bilties preventing them from following their
| usual yocations.
We should have no objection to seeing few
| millions apportioned among the States for the
purpose Of founding and maintaining polytech
mic schools, where thousands of our young men
may obtain, at small cost, an education in the
| mechanical trades and arts, that will fit them
for making living when they leave school. and
make us Independent of our present dependence
| upon foreigners for our best mechanics and arti
sans in many trades. VIGO
| TERRE HAUTE Feb. 8.